Technology Limits?

     I love technology. More than most and less than some, I'm always looking for new ideas on how to incorporate it into the classroom. But I admit defeat when trying to manage some technology and how students use it. So what has flummoxed me in the past? What piece of technology has me gnashing my teeth? The cell phone. This tiny instrument has caused me and many teachers I know nothing but angst. Between parents texting their kids just because to work supervisors texting to see if teens can leave school so they can cover someone else's shift (yes, this happens weekly at my school), the cell phone and I are developing a love/hate relationship.
     In the past kids have used their phones to listen to music (remember, my school is an alternative one), occasionally look things up and this year, they'll be using them to check out books from my library. Useful ways to use a cell phone as an instrument. However, they also use phones to Snapchat, Instagram, text each other, text parents and other family members and so on.
     What's the solution? As much as I hate to admit defeat, I am. So to bring things more under control this year, I'm going to institute a cell phone policy. It's not all worked out yet as I've turned to some people for help in figuring this out. Obviously, I'm not engaging my kids all the time. So there's that to work on. But I think it goes beyond that. I truly believe some people are addicted to their cell phones which makes it hard for them to disengage from the device.
     The students probably aren't going to like it. I'm not going to like it. But it is what it is. I'd be interested to know what others do to stem this growing tidal wave of use. Cell phones are great tools, but they can also be
negative . I don't have the answers....do you? Share it with me...it could make all the difference.